weddings: we were the brides

wedding rings and things

most importantly is the ring in any wedding

but i have a pendant and a cleopatra chain for my mahar

a flower shape embedded with tiny diamonds and blue stones

exclusive from a goldsmith in Nottingham

but our wedding was simple

a celebration among friends away from my family

with consent from ayoh and che

avoiding tradition and was insensitive at that time

being young and independent, rather impulsive 

my elder sister noral married according to tradition

from the majlis bertunang, akah nikah and makan beradab

being the eldest, everything was well planned and grand

what more the in-laws were  from the same village

Bibi's wedding was pomp in  Kelantanese-style

wedding rings and things like the hantaran

were second after the stated mas kahwin

we decorated the bed as the pelamin

and everyone were cramped into the bilik pengantin

the groom came from Pahang

so we had to prepare a homestay for the family.

for hantar menantu we convoy to Temerloh 

sufia followed my steps, married in texas

again with the consent from ayoh and che

both of them were so understanding

as long as the daughters are safe and happy

nazirah's wedding came by after a long lapse

the four of us were busy raising our children

the kenduri was lavish as she has her incomes

but still there is no pelamin

as ayah and che don't like to waste

but to give as kenduri kesyukuran

after retirement my parents renovate the house

special addition is the bilik pengantin 

the furnitures and carpet and curtains all new
ready to welcome majlis merisik and bertunang

one after another the room witness more weddings

 aliza, saniah, anita, syam and elly

i was getting more interested with the rings and things

getting involved in the traditional procedures

the dulangs must be odd filled with manisan and gifts
and the mas kahwin or barang kemas
sending-off the brides ties the bond between the families
to Kuala Trengganu, Kuala Kangsar and Besut

organising 7 'persandingan' in the family 

with only one menyambut menantu for era

we attended syam's persandingan in KL

considered the most special occasion in the family

during Elly's wedding she set-up a pelamin in the living

my oh my
 all the 'pengantin lama' also want to be on the dais

and that was the last wedding in Taman Guru
surely  its grandeur

TRIVIA

Who are the Kelantanese groom ?

Guess the family tradition we celebrate after a hard day's work.

metamorphosis in celebrating eidulfitri

first decade
not much memory
but i remembered a trip to BATA
at night with ayoh and che
looking for raya shoes
tried it every night before raya
such excitement!
we learnt to fast
in the evening we tagged behind ayoh for a stroll
as che was busy in the kitchen
at night we went for terawih
the best treat was rojak kuah kacang
joined the other kids playing mercun

second decade
we helped kakya with the raya cookies
she baked cupcakes and brownies so well
she can even prepare icing cake for b'day
our dress were customed made by kakmoh
once we had bell bottom with matching waist coat
the other year we even have peplum dress
we were threesome with same design but in different shades
walk round the village, even go on a bus ride to our friends' raya party
Raya in Taman Guru was not much fun
we love and miss the kampung -style raya
coming back from college for raya
we just chilled out with our younger sisters
we said raya is meant  for children only
but we look forward going to relatives' houses
as we like being treated as the blossoming teenager

third decade
kakya,kakni and kakna were married
balik kampung with our families
along, hisyam, ida, nuha, amin and saif
make our raya so meaningful
we exchanged ang pow
brought home cookies and gifts
acik su and che rah also started a new family
later on aisya, dee, dhuha, tasneem, nasuha,
hajar, hannan, alin and the 3 boys ing, epi and faris
the raya became more happening
and the nights were lively again with fireworks

fourth decade
we also celebrated rumah terbuka  at my house
more families from tante, seri, enda, uda and suli
ayoh renovated the house with 10 rooms
the home was full with love to our parents
and the laughter from the grandchildren
the y-generation mostly boys so boisterous
imran, akim, nu'man, amer, hanif, eisyraf, umair,
irfan, muaz, ammar, haziq, wafi, eqmal and ariq
and balik kampung was the best moments
eidulfitri is time to exchange cookies
showing off childrens also moms' attire
and  the colour theme keep changing every year
each family proudly snapped photos for momentos
the laman was fully parked with cars
and the lounge and living rooms turned bedroom
to occupy the growing family
the new girls azalea, hana, kyra, damia, sofea, betty
were like princess treated by the older cousins
nabilah, anis, husna, yati, alia, aimi, solehah, iman, najihah and sarah
moms were always occupied in the kitchen
making sure everyone has their meal
everyday we cooked together gotong royong

fifth decade
Now, our children are married
so the partners were coming to our family home
family of four farhana, fakri, firdaus and fahmi
came along hisyam and yana
nuha and shamril, tasneem and asim.
and we're expecting more grandchildren coming
though we have to face traffic hurdles
to and fro during festive seasons
but we are still faithful to be home
with che and ayoh for eidulfitri